Prof. Michael A. Furtado
340V McKenzie Hall
541-346-4834
[email protected]
Winter 2016 Office Hours: Tuesday and Friday, 9:00 – 10:00, or by appointment.
History 321
Late Medieval Europe
The story of the cultural, political, economic, and religious developments in Europe between
1250 and 1500 is a tale of truly epic disasters, including the Great Famine, the Great Plague, and
the seemingly endless Hundred Years’ War. Yet, despite the fact that we often speak of this
period as one of great calamity and decay, it was also a time of great innovation in the arts and
sciences, as well as the moment when the concept of the “state” began to take root in Europe.
This course is a lecture course, but there will be many opportunities to discuss assigned readings.
Students are encouraged to remain current with required readings throughout the course in order
to facilitate those discussions and enrich their own understanding of the material.
Course Objectives
Students taking this course will:
 Learn about the various historical theories surrounding the interpretation of the Late
Middle Ages
 Learn to read primary sources critically and secondary sources analytically
 Engage in analysis of primary sources and use them in supporting arguments concerning
their interpretation
 Engage in thoughtful analysis and discussion of a variety of primary source documents
and secondary historical writings
Required Reading
The following titles are available at the Duckstore; most are also widely available via other book
retailers.
Judith Bennet, A Medieval Life
Michael Camille, Gothic Art: Glorious Visions
Froissart, Chronicles
David Herlihy, The Black Death and the Transformation of the West
Additional readings available online will appear with an * in the syllabus. You may find them at
the link, or under Course Documents on Canvas.
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Assignments and Grading:
Your course grade will consist of four elements.
1) Two (2) Short Papers
2) Midterm Exam
3) Take Home Final Exam
4) Attendance and Participation in any Discussion
30%
25%
35%
10%
(each 15%)
A Word about Plagiarism: Regrettably, I must make a statement regarding the offense of
plagiarism. Any violation of the University of Oregon’s academic policy on plagiarism will
result in my taking all necessary administrative action to report the conduct. I take the offense of
plagiarism seriously, on an academic and personal level. I will fail you on the assignment at best;
at worst, I will fail you for the course. Serious consequences up to and including expulsion from
the University may result from the offense.
Policy Regarding Late Assignments or Make-up Examinations
All assignments are due by the end of class on the scheduled date unless I have granted an
extension. Late assignments will receive penalties on the following scale:
Assignment received late on the assigned date:
Assignment received one day late:
Assignment received more than one day late:
Assignment received more than two days late:
Two-thirds letter grade penalty.
Full letter grade penalty.
Two (2) letter grade penalty.
No credit.
You must make all requests for extensions in advance. In the case of midterm or final papers,
you must notify me no later than one week prior. Naturally, I will consider emergencies on a
case-by-case basis, but please note that only verifiable emergencies will generally suffice.
Special Needs Note: If you are a student registered with the Accessible Ed Center as eligible for
extra time on exams or for other specific needs associated with the class, please let me know
immediately. Remember that it is your responsibility to make any arrangements necessary with
the Accessible Education Center for exams or other accommodations.
Student Conduct:
General:
Please refrain from reading materials unrelated to our course during class. Please
keep your voice down in the event you need to clarify a note with a neighbor, etc, and please
keep any side conversations to a minimum. Never hesitate to ask a question if you need to do so.
Electronics: Please put cell phones into silent mode before class begins; no texting or viewing
messages during class. Please confine your use of laptops or other devices to note taking, as
activities unrelated to the course are distracting to me as well as to others and thus unacceptable
(even if you sit in the back row). I reserve the right to prohibit the use of all electronics in class
at any time.
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Schedule of Lectures
Week One:
The Medieval Worldview
Monday, Jan. 4
Introduction to the Course; Creating the Late Middle Ages
Wednesday, Jan. 6
The Medieval Worldview
Read: Camille, Chaps. 1 & 2
Friday, Jan. 8
Discussion of Readings
Week Two:
Ways of Seeing Religion
Monday, Jan 11
Learning and Theology: Scholasticism
Read: Aquinas, on the Nature of God http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/aquinas1.asp *
Wednesday, Jan. 13
Mysticism
Read: Camille, Chap. 3
Caesarius of Heisterbach, The Eucharist as a Charm*
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/heisterbach-sacra-charm.asp;
Elizabeth Petroff, A New Feminine Spirituality*
Friday, Jan. 15
Discussion of Readings
Week Three:
Ways of Living: Economies and Politics
Monday, Jan. 18
Martin Luther King Day, No class.
Wednesday, Jan. 20
Money, Banking, and Trade
Read: Matthew of Paris: King Henry III’s Reformation of the Coinage, 1248
http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/1248hen3-coinage.asp
Coinage Agreement Between Hamburg and Lübeck, 1255
http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/1255hamburg-lubeck-coins.asp
Get started on A Medieval Life
Wednesday, Jan. 22
The Italian Way: Communal Government
Read: Giovanni Villani, Florentine Chronicle Excerpts at
http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/source/villani.asp
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Week Four
The Calamitous Fourteenth Century Begins
Monday, Jan. 25
The Peasants’ World
Read: Bennett, Medieval Life; Barbara Hanawalt, The Ties that Bound, Group Chapter
assignments.
Wednesday, Jan 27
The Great Famine
Read: William Chester Jordan, The Great Famine*; Johannes de Trokelowe on the Famine in
Annates (Early Fourteenth Century)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/famin1315a.asp;
Friday, Jan 29
Discussion of Readings
Week Five
The End of the World?
Monday, Feb. 1
The Hundred Years’ War Begins
Read: Froissart, pgs. 68-110
Wednesday, Feb. 3
The Black Death
Read: Herlihy, The Black Death (Entire)
Friday, Feb. 5
Discussion of Readings; Midterm Prep
First Paper Due Today
. Week Six:
New Points of View
Monday, Feb. 8
Midterm Examination
Wednesday, Feb. 10
Vernacular Literature
Read: Boccacio, Decameron, 1st Day, Novels 1 – 6 (Group Assignments) available here:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23700
Friday, Feb. 12
Discussion of Readings
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Week Seven
War and Consequence
Monday, Feb. 15
England, France, and Governance
Read: Thomas Walsingham: The Good Parliament of 1376 at
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1376goodparliament.asp
Wednesday, Feb. 17
War, Mercenaries, and Italy
William Caferro, The Fox and the Lion (Excerpt) in The Hundred Years’ War – A Wider Focus
Friday, Feb. 19
Discussion of Readings
Week Eight
Social Upheaval
Monday, Feb. 22
The Jacquerie
Read: Froissart, pgs. 146-166
Wednesday, Feb. 24
The English Peasants’ Revolt, 1381
Read: Froissart, pgs. 211-230
Friday, Feb. 26
Discussion of Readings
Week Nine
Challenges to Religion
Monday, Feb. 29
The Great Schism and Heresy
Read: Froissart, pgs. 201-210; Selected Letters of Catherine of Sienna*
Wednesday, Mar. 2
The Hussite Revolution
Read: Thomas Fudge, The Crusade against Heretics in Bohemia, 1418–1437* Selected excerpts
(Group Assignments)
Friday, Mar. 4
Discussion of Readings
Second Paper Due
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Week Ten
The Waning of the Middle Ages
Monday, Mar. 7
The End of the Hundred Years’ War
Read: Trial of Joan of Arc, selected transcript excerpts (Group Assignment), available at
http://historymedren.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.stjoancenter.com/Trials/
Wednesday, Mar. 9
Fifteenth Century Italy
Read: Camille, Chapters 4 & 5
Friday, Mar. 11
Wrap up and Discussion of Readings
Final Exam Due in my inbox on Wed, March 16, by 5:00 PM
via Email Only.
Have a Great Spring Break!
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